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International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine
Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences of Yazd
ISSN: 1680-6433 EISSN: 1680-6433
Vol. 15, No. 10, 2017, pp. 641-648
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Bioline Code: rm17076
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine, Vol. 15, No. 10, 2017, pp. 641-648
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Thymoquinone as a natural spermostatic substance in reproductive medicine: An experimental study
Iranpour, Farhad Golshan; Fazelian, Khatereh & Dashti, Gholam Reza
Abstract
Background: Nonoxynol-9 a nonionic surfactant is widely used for its spermicidal
effects. Finding new sperm immobilizing agents is necessary because Nonoxynol-9
damages the tissues of female reproductive system.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Thymoquinone (TQ)
as a potential spermostatic compound on the motility and viability of human
spermatozoa.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the effects of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
μg/ml, 1 and 10 mg/ml of TQ on normozoospermic semen samples were
investigated. Sperm motility and viability were compared between untreated and
TQ-treated aliquots of each semen sample. To evaluate the effects of TQ on the
alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), 32 semen samples were
examined using 50 μg/ml of TQ. Flow cytometric analysis was performed after
staining of spermatozoa with JC-1.
Results: Doses above 20 μg/ml of TQ could eventually immobilize all spermatozoa
in culture medium. Adding 50 μg/ml of TQ did not significantly diminish the
percentage of viable spermatozoa and flow cytometry results revealed that this
amount of TQ could decrease sperm MMP.
Conclusion: TQ could discontinue the movement of sperm cells in medium without
reducing the population of live spermatozoa. It is more likely that TQ exerts its
spermostatic action by mitigating the MMP of spermatozoa. Therefore, TQ could be
considered as a potential new natural spermostatic chemical.
Keywords
Nigella sativa; Sperm immobilizing agents; Sperm motility; Thymoquinone.
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